Improvement in combined cotton chopper and cultivator



W. MULLENS. Combined Cotton Chopper and Cultivator.

No. 206,347. Pate'nt'ed July 23,1878.

WITNESSES I I I INVENTOR ATTORNEY N, PETERS. PMOTO-LITHOGRAPHER,WASHINGTON. o C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MULLENS, OF FLAT CREEK, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206, 347, dated July23, 1878; application filed March 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MULLENs, of Flat Creek, in the county ofBedford and State of Tennessee, have im'ented a new and valuableImprovement in Cotton Chopper and Cultivator Combined; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a top view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 3 is arear-end view of the same.

This invention has for its object the improvement of combinedcultivators and cotton-choppers.

The nature of the invention will be fully set forth in the followingdescription.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates the central beam of myimproved cotton chopper and cultivator, having at each side flexiblyjointed thereto at a the diverging beams B. The rear ends of these beamsare connected to the contiguous end of beam A by means of the end piecesC, the ends of Which oy'erlap each other and are secured to the saidbeam A by means of a bolt, 1), extending through registeringperforations in the ends of the said pieces, and screwed or otherwisesecured to the said beam A. The side beams B are provided with thecultivating-shovels C, of any suitable description, and adjustthemselves automatically to the sides of the ridges upon the flexibleconnections a and bolt 1). They are, however, prevented from upwardvibration beyond the plane of the beam A by a cross-cleat, a, secured tosaid beam and extending over the side beams, as shown in Fig. 1. Theoverlapping ends of the end bars C are provided with a number of spacedperforations, d, that allow the rear end of the frame to be narrowed orwidened, as may be required.

D indicates a chopping-block, extending down from the beam A nearly tothe ground,

and E the chopper, having its bearings upon said beam, and at eachstroke striking With its cutting-edge against the block D. This chopperconsists of a portion, 6, lying along the beam A, and provided with anarm, 0, engaging the spokes of a drivingwheel, E, in advance of its hub,and of an angular portion, f, at right angles to the part 0, upon thelower end of which the cutting-blade is secured.

The chopper-rod is formed of bar-iron of suitable rigidity in a singlepiece by bending, and is brought down to its work, after being raised bythe wheel E, by means of a spring, F, secured at one end to the beam A,and bearing with its other end upon the said rod. The strain upon thespokes of the wheel E is greatly diminished by means of a second spring,8, secured at one end to the heel of the beam A and extending under thechopperrod aforesaid.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined cotton chopper and cultivator, the combination, withthe central beam A, carrying the chopper mechanism, of the lateral sidebars B, having cultivating-show els, and flexibly jointed at their endsto the beam A, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, With the beam A, having the chopper mechanismthereon, of the diverging side bars B, flexibly jointed thereto, theiroverlapping end pieces C, and a pivotbolt, 1), substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MULLENS.

Witnesses:

N. S. B. CoNWELL, W. K. CoNWELL.

